Radiohead - Kid A (CD 2000)

Quite simply, Kid A remains the most bold and shocking career move made by any band in the last few decades.

Year 2000, you pick up a copy of this: the last time Radiohead have had an album out is OK Computer, and at the time they were probably the biggest band in the world. After a two year absence, one might be inclined to expect more of the same guitar-lead spellbinding songwriting which was filling stadiums worldwide last time around...

You hit play and the first thing you hear is a blanket of synthesised notes from a Rhode keyboard and a stuttering heavily treated vocal murmuring. This is 'Everything In Its Right Place' and it's clear that from hereon in, things are going to be startlingly different. what follows is a fantastically diverse album of stark, often haunting post-rock; from superfragile glockenspiel, sounding like the aural equivalent of a developing foetus ('Kid A'), to frantic brass sections ('The National Anthem'); from virtual 'dance'-music (live favourite 'Idioteque') to the almost choral 'Motion Picture Soundtrack'.

however we do get glimpses of the more familiar face of Radiohead - the acoustic soundscape of 'How To Disappear Completely' is every bit as simple yet ethereal as 'Exit Music' or 'Nice Dream'.

The band drew on a VAST range of influences for this album, and (especially Thom) turned their attention more to rhythm than melody - this was simply because they were sick of their older approach to songwriting.
Hence this album is not an instant favourite of many people at all, even those who've much enjoyed the band's earlier albums, but after a number of listens, it is so rewarding.

Personally i think it's their best album, and a must for any radiohead fan. i think this album taught me quite a lot about music, and i'm sure it turned me onto styles of music i may not have ever considered without having heard this.

An amazing album, not as Good as some of their others but there are a few good songs on this album. 'Everything in it's right place', 'Idioteque', 'How to disappear completly', 'Morning Bell' and 'In Limbo' were among my favourites. A good addition to the collection, very ambient album and focused more on atmosphere than lyrics. Overall still pretty amazing.

I used to hate Radiohead. I thought they were whiney and depressing and shockingly bad. When Kid A came out, i hated them even more. How dare they be so arrogant as to release an album into the mainstream and do something so unconventional as to not release singles from it??

Then...i heard it. I have since devoured their back catologue including B-Sides and bootlegs. They are awesome, fantastic and absolute geniuses. Kid A is tentatively described as a post-nuclear dystopic concept album, and you can see the birth to death passage of a "test-tube baby" born into a world of fallout. As a flowing piece of music it is just incredible, however it is also fantastic for its stand out tracks, without a doubt mine being the opener Everything in its right place. Coming in a close second is the final track, Motion Picture Soundtrack. Pushing the boundaries, yet again, Radiohead show their desire to grow and develop as a band while retaining the sound that initially made them so unique.

I think my favourite quote from Thom Yorke (lead singer) was post Kid A's released when he was asked in an interview how he felt about other bands doing the same thing Radiohead did in the 90s with "The Bends". His reply was, "Good Luck with Kid A"

Awesome.

If you're big on radiohead, this should already be in your collection!
If not Kid A is still a great album and definatly worth the money,
including major releases National Anthem and Morning Bell its well worth a listen.

skatman_john

Wow!!!
Fantastic music when you are shooting a fashion shoot!
www.chicproduction.com .....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

After OK Computer, the greatest album of all time in my opinion, I was twitching with excitement when this album was released. What I heard suprised and impressed me. It took a great deal of courage by Radiohead to release this masterpiece. Many of their fans did not get it, and still don't. I guess I'm lucky, I'm one of the few who loves radiohead and electronica. So this is right up my street. Getting straight into it with Everything In Its Right Place, it sets the tone for the album. Dark, paranoid rants and stunning electronic melody, with a flat four soft beat. On to the title track, Kid A, a chilling tune with distorted voice. National Anthem is a little more like the radiohead of old, well, it's as close as it gets on this album. Very bassline orientated, a long intro before he starts ranting, as only he knows how to. How To Disappear Completely is perhaps the most beautiful tune of the album, a wonderful blend of modern electronica and orchestral sounds, a typically depressing yet uplifting tune, which just dissolves into sheer beauty. Treefingers is an instrumental piece which borders on ambient, and Optimistic shows us Thom's dark sense of Irony. In Limbo is the only guitar orientated song of the album, here he gives us a wonderfulacoustic sound and stunning lyrics. Idioteque simply blew me away when I first heard it, it is far and away the best lyrical electronic track I have heard. His finest moment when it comes to his trademark ranting, in fact I think the word tirade is more suitable, all to a rather caning beat. Track of the album. Morning Bell brings us back down with yet more dark paranoid lyrics, before Motion Picture Soundtrack closes the album by melting us away to sleep.

While this album might not be for everyone, if you like electronica and dark lyrics, then this album is a must. Simply stunning.

Make no mistakes.

This RadioHead album, the best in my opinion, is the best musical adventure that happened to me in the begining of the new millenium. After a perfect 'Ok Computer', Thom and the band took great courage by bringing this Kid A to the millions of fans.

It was about time popular artits took the chance to do things diffenrently, not sitting on past success. This is how the world evolves.

So sit back and enter the world of Kid A with no fear. This experience will take you to a higher level of musical nirvana

Wanted to expand my Radiohead collection. This album isn't as good as others but glad I have got it!

radiohead never fail to please.excellent change of direction for one of the best bands ever,amazing!!!